Bouma underwent surgery on Sunday, having the joint reset and a plate inserted.

Manager Martin O'Neill told the club's official website: "The operation went very well and everybody, including Freddie (Bouma), is very optimistic he will make a rapid recovery.

"Freddie's in good spirits. It was a bad injury but with the level of treatment he's had and the post-operative prognosis we've been given, we're all hoping to see him back, perhaps sooner than everyone expected on Saturday night."